Importance of Hiring a Professional Wedding Photographer

You will hardly find a woman who does not dream of a posh wedding with a gorgeous white dress, tender flowers, smiling guests and numerous photos, depicting each moment of this happy event. However, in addition to these romantic fantasies, wedding involves much preparation and planning. To ensure that the special day goes without troubles, any engaged couples should consider lots of important details. With all this marriage planning fuss, many couples neglect the importance of hiring a professional photographer.

Many people ask their guests to take pictures; however, there are no guarantees that you will get quality photos. Wedding pictures will remind you of your special day, thus it is important hiring a professional who will capture every single moment of your happy day.

In order get quality pictures depicting the atmosphere of your wedding ceremony and celebration, it is crucial to find the right photographer. The process may take some time, so it is recommended starting your pursuit well in advance. To find an experienced cameraman, you may seek advice from your friends or surf the Internet. Most professional photographers have websites where you can find detailed information about the offered services and samples of pictures. Whether you are looking for a cameraman online, or follow recommendations from friends, the first thing you need to do is to check the portfolio. This will help you understand what photos you may have in your family album. To come up with the right decision it is recommended getting feedbacks from the former clients. Finding customer reviews is easy if you are looking for a photo taker online. Thus, be sure to read what people say about the photographer you consider hiring.

A photographer is an important person on your wedding, thus avoid making rash decisions. To get more information about the photo taker and the services he/she offers you need to talk to this person. Live communication will help understand if you feel comfortable with this individual. If you feel any discomfort or if you understand the cameraman is not going to stick to your recommendations and requirements, you'd better continue your pursuit and look for a more compliant person.

Do not forget about your budget. Since wedding is an expensive event, you need to know how many pictures you will get for your money. Besides, ask the photographer how long he/she will be present on your wedding. If you want the photo taker to spend the whole day with you, be ready to shell out a tidy sum.

Wedding Photo Booth

Having a photo booth at a wedding can create the most memorable experiences for family and friends. Something about getting into a small space together, hidden behind a curtain, brings out a moment of craziness in each person that can create a visual memory that could literally last a lifetime. Knowing that you have a strip of four creative facial poses while your friend has an identical strip makes a connection that ultimately has led to the resurgent popularity of photo booths.

Want to rent a booth for your upcoming wedding? It may be tough to find one nearby. Try searching for "rent" "photo booth" and "your city". If nothing turns up, try typing in the nearest big city to your location. Most equipment rental companies serve a specific regional market, and may travel farther for an additional charge. Also consider booking well in advance. Photobooth rentals are often made six months or more in advance. If there are not very many companies to choose from in your area, you want to get on their schedule before someone else takes your date.

Thinking of starting a photo booth business to serve weddings in your area? Many successful rental companies have been started by entrepreneurs around the country. As long as you are committed to the serious effort of owning your own company, a wedding photo booth business can deliver reliable profit and grow as you experience positive word of mouth.

There are several steps to starting a photobooth event rental business. First evaluate your market. Who will be your competition, are there many existing companies or no one serving your area at all? Next budget your startup costs. A wedding photo booth with paper and freight costs can total $9000. Then you will need to transport your booth, which means a trailer, ramp, and large dolly. Include marketing and administration costs for your company, and you will see the total capital requirements for getting started.

Video Slide Show for the Wedding Reception

Slide shows for wedding receptions are becoming very popular. It is most definitely the "In" thing to do, and before long wedding slide shows will become so common that the thought of not having a slide show at the wedding reception will be equal to the thought of not having a photographer at the wedding reception! However, some brides and grooms are a little reluctant at the prospect of showing a slide show at their wedding reception. Here are some of the top 5 reasons that we have been exposed to, and our solutions to them.

1. We don't want to bore our guests. - This is a very legitimate concern. Afterall, how many of us really want to sit down and watch picture after picture of the same two people and their friends - whom you may not even know - over and over and over again? You can see the audience yawning without even being there. It can make you tired just thinking about such a slideshow. However, this is not the case with creative slide shows. With all the creative elements added into the slide show, the audience sits amazed in the midst of laughter and tears while enjoying being entertained and having no idea how much time has actually passed by. In addition to the creative elements included in creative slide shows, each client is counseled in how to create a slide show that will involve the audience, not bore them.

2. We feel like we're showing off or being prideful by displaying picture after picture of just us. - Another legitimate concern, but totally obsolete. This is your day - it is about you! Enjoy your day that's all about you and your new love - celebrate! This is a once in a lifetime event! And a professional slide show consultant can help you create a slideshow that is entertaining and extremely enjoyable to all your guests.

3. It's too time consuming. - Yes, gathering up photographs, and videos does take time. So ask mom and dad, brother and sister, grandmom and grandpop, aunt and uncle, and very close friends to help. Think of the wonderful memories you'll be creating as you sit down together to go through old photos and watch videos that haven't been viewed since they were taped. Make some fresh cookies and hot cocoa, or some other delicious snack to serve as you spend the afternoon together reminiscing. This will be time well spent as you share these tender and intimate moments with those you love the most.

4. It's too expensive. - How can you put a price on memories? Photos will yellow, crack, and fade. And even VHS tapes lose their quality over time. However, once you place your favorite photos and video clips on DVD's or CD's, they will last forever. Never cracking, yellowing, fading or degrading. Another big bonus is that they make wonderful gifts for you to give to family and close friends after the wedding reception ceremony. Think of the joy on your mother's, father's, and grandparents face when you hand them, their own copy of the DVD slide show!

5. I just don't know where to begin. - We realize that this slide show project can seem overwhelming amongst all the other wedding planning that must be done, but organization is the key and a professional slideshow consultant can help you in this area. Sands of Time Multimedia Creations slideshow consultants are always glad to help you with any questions or concerns you may have.

So, what are you waiting for? Let's get started creating a wedding reception video slide show presentation that will add to your day's events and keep your guests talking about your wedding day for years to come!

Creating a 50th Anniversary Photo Book

A photo book makes a great 50th anniversary present, and is a fun thing to put together. Here are some tips to help you along the way.

Compiling Your Material:

Start early! The more time you give yourself to start and complete this project, the better the finished product will be in the end. Start of course by getting some photos of the couple's wedding. If you are creating this book as a surprise to the anniversary couple, you may have to be a little sneaky in order to complete this step. If you visit often, you will have to find out where the photos are and how to get them somewhere that you can scan and return them without being noticed. If you don't have access to the photos, enlist the help of someone who does, such as one of your siblings or a family friends, or whoever you need to in order to get these photos.

Of course, you won't just want photos of the wedding. If possible you will want to somehow represent all of the 50 happy years that the couple has had together. In order to accomplish this, you can either sneak more photos from their house, or, better still, gather as many photos as you can from the family and friends of the couple. Why is this better? The main reason is that when you widen the circle of where you are gathering the photos, you are more likely to get photos that the couple hasn't seen, or hasn't seen many times over the years.

As you are gathering your photos, see if you can get some of your contributors to give you some stories and anecdotes about the couple. One way to do this is to send out questionnaires so that your participants can fill in answers as they see fit. You might also ask them to write a paragraph or two about the photos that they send you and the reasons that the photos are special to them, and what great memories they hold.

Try to include all of the things that the couple has accomplished together, and include plenty of photos of their kids, both as youngsters and grownups.

Arranging and Organizing:

Your anniversary photo book will work best if it is organized in some way, rather than looking like just a bunch of random photographs. Start with the wedding photos and move forward from there through all of the years as best you can. Include the snippets and stories that you have gathered and come up with some titles for the different sections, such as "Beginnings" or "the San Diego Years" or whatever works best for the trajectory of your book. If you are new at layout and design, you can either enlist the help of a family member who knows something about these things, or download some templates online.

Printing and Binding:

Use the highest quality printing that you can afford, such as digital color. When it comes time to bind your book, you can either use an online service, or do the binding yourself. Thermal binding machines are the ones that are used to create hardcover books, and there are many models that can be easily found for less than $100 new. These machines are very fun and easy to use as well, so you can make as many books as you want, for whatever occasion, whenever you want, and save a lot of money in the process.

Key Shots at a Wedding - The Most Important Wedding Photography Images

We are often asked, on our training courses, about providing a list of 'key shots' for a wedding photographer, so that nothing is missed. So here is the list for a traditional English Church Wedding:

First some important notes about the type of images to take and why

When wedding photographers shoot a wedding day it is always important to have a final goal in mind, not just to follow a tick list of items. In our case, the majority of our brides choose a storybook wedding album as the best way to show off their wedding photographs. Therefore the wedding photography should reflect the fact that the final product is going to be a storybook album layout. Make sure that you get a large number of 'background' shots which can be used behind the main images on a page. Wedding photographs of shoes and panoramic views from inside the church are great for this.

In addition try to remember that each double page spread represents a snapshot of a particular part of the day. Make sure that you take enough images at each point in the day to fill out two pages and try to get a variety of image formats. It is important to have a wide selection of portrait and landscape wedding images to make the layout simpler.
Here are the 'must have' list of wedding photography images.

At The House
· Shoes
· Gown
· Flowers
· Bride make-up
· Bride in mirror
· Bride adjusting dress
· Mother adjusting veil
· Brides parents
· Each bridesmaid
· Brides & bridesmaids
· Brothers & sisters
· Bride & dad
· Bride leaving house
· Car shot with dad

At Church
· Groom & best man
· Best man adjusting tie
· Close up of groom
· Groom with parents
· Groom & dad shaking hands
· Shots with ushers
· Arrival of bride
· Dad helping bride out of car
· Bridal party walking towards church
· Bride & dad down isle

During Ceremony
· Shots of ceremony
· Overall shots of church from back
· Close up of groom
· Putting on rings
· Kiss

After Ceremony
· Register signing
· Bride & groom walking down the isle
· Confetti shots of couple
· Couple around church
· Family around church
· Candids of wedding party
· Wedding party
· Posed shots of couple in church
· Couple by car
· Couple in car

Reception
· Receiving line
· Wedding party shot
· Formal family shots
· Toasts
· Speeches
· Cake cutting
· First Dance
· Candids
· Outdoor portraits of couple

The Five Things You Need to Do For Your Wedding Photography Consultation

When it comes time to book consultations with wedding photographers, it can be a bit daunting if you're not certain what to expect or what to do. But the process is actually quite simple if you follow these five basic steps...

1: Schedule your consultations wisely.

Assuming that you're arranging consultations with more than one photographer, it's best to schedule all of your photographer meetings within the same day or two. Wedding photographers will offer you the courtesy of holding your date while you make your decision, but they can only hold that date for you for a few days or a week at most.

By booking your consultations within the same day or two, you guarantee that your wedding date is held by all of your potential photographers for a similar amount of time.

2: Prepare for your meeting.

During your consultation, a lot of information gets covered in a short amount of time. You want to be sure to ask all of the questions that are really important to you, so it's a good idea to write a list out beforehand and bring it with you.

3: Know your budget.

It wastes your time and the photographer's time if you meet with them and you're not sure about exactly how much you're prepared to spend on your wedding photography. Before scheduling a wedding photography consultation, decide on a budget and be certain that you and your fiance are both in agreement about the amount.

4: Know your wedding schedule.

Before you even start contacting photographers, make a list of the wedding photographs that are important to you and your fiancee. Do you want pre-ceremony photos? Ceremony only? Do you want posed shots with your wedding party, friends and family? Photos at the reception? A comprehensive list of the photos you want, will help you figure out how long to book your photographer.

When you meet with wedding photographers, they'll need to know how much time you'll want to book them for on your wedding day. Try to be sure about this before you meet with them. If you're not sure, bring the list of your 'must have' photos to your consultation.

5: Trust your instincts, not your wallet.

If you've done your research, you'll have only booked meetings with photographers who have good portfolios, who offer services, rates and photography styles that suit your needs. So the deciding factor will come down to who you'd most like to have as an integral part of your wedding day.

Sometimes you'll know right away. But if you're uncertain, ask yourself which photographer had a personality that seems well-suited to you and your fiance? Which photographer seemed the most competent, knowledgeable and trustworthy? Who seemed to be the most kind, considerate, polite and friendly?

Don't make the mistake of simply choosing the person with the lowest rates. Choose the photographer who you feel will be the best fit for you, your fiance and for your wedding in general.

Using a Wedding Photography Checklist to Ensure a Seamless Photo Shoot the Day of the Wedding

The role of a wedding photographer is very important, helping to document one of the most important days of a person's life, so it goes without saying that it must be done well. Many of the opportunities to snap the perfect picture are fleeting and will be lost forever if missed. It's normal to be nervous considering the situation, I remember how I felt before my first wedding, but if you are confident that you are fully prepared for the big day, you can focus more of your attention on being ready when those precious moments arise.

The methods you employ before the day of the wedding and the equipment you need may be quite different from that of other forms of photography, so the following checklist may prove invaluable.

Preparing for the Wedding Day

The Interview

Having a questionnaire prepared beforehand is a necessary aid in interviewing the bride and groom. It both ensures that you don't forget any major details, and adds a nice professional touch. The questionnaire should ask for information regarding the wedding and reception venue(s) and any related restrictions, the location where the bride will be preparing, all important times and as complete a schedule as possible, such as the wedding ceremony start time and duration, the reception, when the bride will begin preparing, etc., and any religious affiliations and resulting restrictions that may apply through this avenue. It's also important to find out the types of specific shots that they will require. Do they want group shots? If so, who will this include? Will it be the bride and groom with the wedding party, with their separate families, or other special combinations?

Always take the time to ask them if they have any specific needs or desires that they wish to communicate. They must feel that you understand that this day is all about them, and that you are flexible and adaptable based on their unique situation. This interview is absolutely essential to the process, as it allows you to be fully prepared when the moment of truth arrives.

Scouting Locations

Scouting the venues is useful on many levels. It allows you to ascertain travel times between the various locations, it gives you the opportunity to check out the available lighting, which will permit you ample time to find solutions to any lighting challenges that will arise, as well as to know the best spots to position yourself and any second or third shooter(s) you may have.

Take the time to speak to the staff at these locations to find out if there are any limitations or requirements of which the bride and groom were not aware. This can save some serious frustration.

Creating a Schedule

Prepare a schedule for yourself so you know exactly when you have to be at each location, and exactly what you should be doing at these locations. Leave yourself some breathing room by arriving early, and be ready for any unexpected changes that may arise; although the ideal wedding will go off without a hitch, plan for it to be anything but ideal so that any surprises don't completely render your schedule obsolete. Have a shot list on hand, and preferably memorized, that lists all of the necessary shots at each location and within a given time frame. The last thing you want is to get home and start processing and realize that you forgot to shoot something that was specifically requested.

Equipment

This short checklist will give you an idea of the essential gear that you should have on hand at every wedding. Note that there is definitely other useful equipment to have. This list is what I take to be the bare minimum:

• A camera and spare camera body. You never know what will happen.


• An assortment of lenses is another must have. My top three are:
  
  • 70-200mm f2.8 - I find this lens to yield excellent image quality and have an optimal focal length range for this specific type of event.
  
  
  • 85mm f1.2 - this lens produces beautiful background blur, and allows action stopping and hand holding in darker conditions. I love it.
  
  
  • Macro lens - 100mm f2.8 - perfect for close up detail shots, it has superb image quality and a useful focal length.
  
  
  • Speed lights and light stands, as well as an umbrella.
  
  
  • Tripods.
  
  
  • Reflectors.
  
  
  • Extra batteries, for the same reason as number 1.
  
  
  • Extra CF cards
  
  
  • A laptop for the reception slide show (if there will be one, of course), or to upload your images onto in the event of needing to clear your CF card, which is unlikely if you have extra cards, but again; you never know what can happen.

The only thing I would add to this list is a person to keep track of gear while you are out there trying to secure those pristine images.

Like I said, there is much room for adding practices and equipment to this list, but I think that it can be used as a minimal guideline in ensuring that you have at least the absolute essentials for your wedding shoot.

Wedding Photo Opportunities In Marlborough

Marlborough is a region known for its wine, its beauty and its fantastic accommodation. Couples from all over New Zealand and all over the world choose Marlborough to celebrate their special day. Whether you're looking for something small with family and close friends, or you're trying to find wedding venues in Marlborough that can hold a few hundred people, there's something in the region to suit everyone. A lot of lodges and resorts open up onto beautiful vistas and the dry climate of the region makes outdoor weddings both gorgeous and stress free.

If you are planning your special day in Marlborough or you're thinking about it as the location for your wedding, you probably want to have as much information as possible at your disposal. Something that a lot of couples don't even think about until the last minute is where to have their wedding photos taken! You wouldn't want to waste such a great opportunity in one of the most beautiful parts of the country - consider a few of these locations for yours.

The Queen Charlotte Track

It's hard to pick just one spot along the Queen Charlotte Track. This 71 km stretch of walkway is huge and gives ample opportunities for the perfect spot. Look out over some of the beautiful bays when you're scouting out a location and find one that you like close to your wedding venue.

Waterfall Bay gives you a great view over the still waters with the occasional sailing ship to break up the blue. A view across Grove Arm to the Whenuanui Scenic Reserve in the distance is almost painting-like.

Blackwood Bay looks absolutely fantastic at dusk and at dawn as the light hits the hills of Macalister Cove across the water.

French Pass Road

The ruggedly beautiful and rocky French Pass Road offers something a little different to other locations in the Sounds. Views of the water are contrasted with the yellow flaxes and grass by the unsealed road by the Rai Valley Township.

Picton

The picturesque, quaint little town of Picton offers gorgeous views over the Cook Strait. Perfectly kept grasses and parks boast the harbour as an ideal backdrop. The lighting of the morning and evening looks incredible as it falls against the shore, but nothing beats the blue skies of a sunny afternoon.

Capture the perfect pictures for your wedding day. Find the right location for your photos after the wedding ceremony in Marlborough Sounds.

Wedding Photo Booth - A New Twist in Old Traditions

Wedding Photo booths are surely a great means of entertaining visitors and also capture invaluable memories at ones marriage party. With photo booths one can avail great pictures that will help in giving a fresh and trendy behind-the-scenes appearance of the wedding. They can therefore help to return the favour to the guests by providing them with memorable photos that they can carry home. A photo booth can be hired or even a photographer can be hired for the event.

Thesehelp to bring past memories back to the present day just like a guest book that will carry back the lovely memories. These have therefore brought in a twist to a tradition which is old. With the help of digital photography the photo booths are able to provide a special guest book having all the photograph strips from the reception.

Guests can have the option to retain one photo with them while placing the other photo taken in a book specially meant for guests. They can also write custom-made messages and add good wishes to the wedding couple. So as the reception comes to an end you get to have a guest book which is filled with some lasting memories of the reception. The family can also use them to capture the pleasant memories of the reception for ever. They are sure to capture amusing, touching, sentimental and off-the-wall photos of guests as they enjoy the naturalness of posing for photographs and edifying their very true personalities behind the blind of the photo booth with friends and family, relatives and co-workers. Couples too can savour the moments of their wedding by capturing the rituals and the hum drums of the party. At the end these photos help to remind the great time that the family members shared with each other.

Guests can use the wedding photo booths to take snaps by the simple press of a button. Instantly a unique and treasured favour gets delivered to the guests as the pictures can be customized by the addition of an event log with a phrase, date for your guests to remember or some particular moment from the reception party.

Bridal Boudoir Photography: The Best Photos of You

A classy and artistic bridal boudoir photography, like marriage, may only come once in your life. So why not make sure that the best people help you look the sexiest in this very intimate moment of your life?

The main reason a woman decides to be photographed half naked is to create an intimate and unforgettable gift to her future husband. Boudoir photography brings out the best in every woman by making use of the most talented photographers, suggestive poses, and digital enhancements. The field is getting popular despite being derided by some critics as vulgar and base.

Most women feel intimidated by the idea of getting photographed in their undergarments. But having the best bridal photography boudoir is not very hard if handled by professionals who know what they are doing. The most important thing in this event is to feel relaxed and comfortable with people around you, and the whole process will flow smoothly from there.

Most women feel intimidated by the idea of getting photographed in their undergarments. But having the best bridal boudoir photography is not very hard if handled by professionals who know what they are doing. The most important thing in this event is to feel relaxed and comfortable with people around you, and the whole process will flow smoothly from there.

A good bridal boudoir photography studio believes that every woman is beautiful, regardless of their age, shape or size. More importantly, this beauty must be captured in every photograph that they take.

Though an expert graphics artist can do wonders with digital enhancements using the most sophisticated computer equipments, artistry and intimacy cannot be faked and must be captured by the photographer the moment the pose is done. The printed photograph must reflect the mood the subject is on when that shot is taken.

Very few artists can do justice to portraits of a woman's body. Talent coupled with long experience on the field and a never ending desire for perfection are the only true guide for a photographer into coaxing the most intimate pose out of her subjects. That being said, a relaxed and cooperative mood must be set between the subject and the artists. Only then, will the photo shoot can have the desired smooth flow and produce the best portraits.

Finding the best artists is the first step for a successful bridal boudoir photography. There are a lot of studios that offer this kind of service, with each one promising to give you the best photos for your album. The best ones are still those that have the most talented women photographers as this quickly erases some degree of awkwardness to most clients.

But in the end, you must select the one that makes you feel the most comfortable and can give the most beautiful portrait of you in your most intimate moments.

Terrific Wedding Photography Locations Around Philadelphia

For wedding photography, Philadelphia is probably the best city in the country. It's urban, steeped in history and culture, filled with gardens and parks and dubbed the "city of love" for a reason. For five of the city's best wedding photography locations, keep reading.

Longwood Gardens (longwoodgardens.org)

Most Philadelphia wedding photographers will say you can't go wrong at Longwood Gardens. With its acres of flowers and fountains, Longwood is pristine, beautiful and a stunning backdrop for your wedding day photos.

However, before you arrive at the Longwood gates with your wedding party, photographer and lights in tow, you should know the Gardens do allow photography, but there are policies you must follow. All attendees are required to pay the $16 entrance fee, and no tripods or lights can be used at any time. You may also be required to sign a permission form saying the photos are for personal, not commercial, use.

JFK Plaza or LOVE Park

Philadelphia's JFK Plaza is lovingly nicknamed LOVE Park thanks to the iconic LOVE statue made by Robert Indiana situated at the head of the park. It's an urban, Center City setting with a romantic fountain and a locale that simply embodies the city.

While free and certainly romantic, it can serve as a popular wedding photography spot, particularly on a beautiful July Saturday. You may want to go early or allot extra time to wait for other wedding parties.

Bartram's Garden

As one of the nation's oldest botanical gardens - Bartram's Gardens - are steeped in history and tradition. They're also incredibly beautiful, making them the perfect location for wedding photography. Philadelphia residents will instantly recognize the beautiful stone courtyard and classic coach house.

While Bartram's Garden can be rented out for photos only, brides should be aware that the site is often booked for special events, including weddings. For strictly photos, it can be secured for between $200 and $250 an hour.

The Steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art

As the major focus of Philadelphia's Fairmount Park, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is massive and a true landmark of the city. For those looking for a real taste of Philadelphia in their wedding photos, this could be it.

With its eight pillars and stunning steps, it's a perfect photo spot. Also, fans of the Rocky movie may recognize these iconic steps from the popular film. However, to use those steps as a wedding photography location, you or your photographer must obtain a permit from the Fairmount Park Commission ($50 per hour).

Rittenhouse Square Park

Smack dab in the middle of Center City, Rittenhouse Square is both a convenient and beautiful spot for wedding pictures. Philadelphia residents will instantly recognize the urban park's green setting and natural beauty. The best part? You don't need a permit to shoot.

Make Your Own Wedding Photo Book

You wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, if not THE most important. That's why your wedding photographs are so very important. They will become the main permanent record of your special day that you will want to share with friends and family or just look at yourself to remind you of how wonderful it was and to bring back all those precious memories. A wedding photo book is a striking and elegant way to display your wedding pictures and one that allows you to be much more creative and show off more of your own personal style and thoughts than a traditional photo album.

When you make your own wedding photo book, you can design each of the pages of your book individually. You can choose from different layouts that can display either a single photo on the page or several related photos. You can also select a background for the page and other embellishments such as frames and borders. You can even add your own text to record your own and your spouse's individual memories of your wedding day.

Some photo book publishers offer a range of very special luxury covers and bindings for special occasion books, like a wedding photo book. For example, you can have a quality leather cover with stamped text or a velvet cover, also with stamped text. Some publishers also let you choose silver or gold gilt page edges for an extra special finishing touch. Lay flat binding allow you to display your book open at any page on a table or shelf, without the curving of the page near the spine that can distort the pictures. Some publishers also offer larger sizes so that you can create a true 'coffee table' style book recording your own wedding day.

Many professional photographers now offer to create a wedding photo book from your photos for you as an extra service. I would suggest that you seriously consider making your own though, because you will be able to create a much more personal book. The software that you use to make your own wedding photo book is very easy to use. It allows creative folks to design every element of their wedding photo book but for those who need more help, there are plenty of guides and shortcuts that you can use. 

New Year's Eve Wedding Favors

As the best night of the entire year for parties, New Year's Eve is a fabulous time to host a wedding. You can be sure that everyone will be dressed to the nines and ready to gave a great time! Thank your guests for coming to your wedding with one of these great ideas for New Year's Eve wedding favors.

Champagne is a popular part of many New Year's Eve celebrations, and it would be a great idea for a wedding favor. It would be a very swanky favor for a black tie wedding. Small splits of Champagne would be fantastic favors that your guests are sure to love. To make it even more impressive, hang a small strand of crystals around the neck of each bottle (almost like a crystal necklace for the Champagne - how festive!) with a message of thanks from the bride and groom. There are a few variations on this which would work very well, such as substituting sparkling wine or Prosecco for Champagne. A non-alcoholic sparkling cider would be another option, especially if you are likely to have underage guests or tee-totalers at your reception.

A very idea for a New Year's Eve wedding reception is a masquerade theme party. Beautiful party masks would be a perfect favor for this style of reception. Look for very fancy masks with plenty of sparkle and feathers, in the style of the renowned Venetian masks. For the gentlemen, a classic black mask would be appropriate (not as fun as the masks for the ladies, but that can't be helped). Encourage your guests to wear their fun new masks during the reception party. Set up a photo booth so that you can get pictures of everyone in their masks. Think what a fun addition that will be to the wedding album.

Help everyone start their New Year off with miniature calendars for the wedding favors. This would be a fun project, and has become so easy to do at one of the online photo sites like Snapfish. Put some thought into the pictures that you select for the calendars. The best ones are seasonal for each month. It is certainly fun to put a personal touch on the calendars, but do keep in mind that not everyone will want to see a picture of the bride and groom for each month of the year. To make the favor even more fun, highlight non-traditional holidays throughout the year like National Relaxation Day or Go Fly a Kite Day.

Edible favors are always a bit hit, and they would certainly be great for a New Year's Eve wedding. Choose fancy sweets like handmade truffles displayed in silver boxes. Another great favor would be silver and gold M&Ms personalized with the bride and groom's names and the wedding date. Place them in clear containers so that the metallic colors will really show and tie it up with an elegant black satin bow. With any edible favor, it is a nice touch to add a personalized tag with a message from the newlyweds.

The right favors will help to enhance the festive nature of your New Year's Eve wedding reception. They are a gracious way to thank guests for attending your wedding, and can really add to the fun of the evening. One great thing about a New Year's Eve wedding is that everyone will think of your great party on your anniversary each year.

Freelance Photography - The Tough Job of Photo-Journalism

Photojournalism is a broader term used for candid photography. It can be said that this is the trickiest type of photography. Catching candid art isn't as easy as it may appear to start.

Photographers pursuing photo-journalism are expected to hold a great amount of expertise in dealing with the angles of portraiture. There is a vast choice of scenes that can be clicked to make the candid portrait pop with life! To make it simple, it can be said that the professional photo-journalists are a cut above the other category of photographers, as they know how to present a story in just a single click.

Defined, photo journalism is a single photo that tells an entire story.

The shots clicked by these photographers are the type to be seen in magazines and newspapers. This type of photo-journalism falls under all subjects of photography but the clicked image needs to be worthy to get published in newspapers with the respective story.

Modern day wedding photography often uses a photo journalistic-style of photography. Remember, a photo with a story?

These days there are many photographers being hired as freelancers to conduct this type of freelance photography.

This kind of photography is usually performed by the journalists who work closely with newspaper photographers and receive commission to produce images that get published with the articles. But freelancer's are seen fulfilling this job more diligently and are primed for hire. If you're wanting to be a photo-journalist then hats off to you. This is a well respected form of photography, and as mentioned previously, often one of the trickiest types of photography.

The second type of journalism photography is where an image is used to cover the story without taking the mention of words. Here, often a single image is used or sometimes one uses as many as ten images that get published in magazines or newspapers. The most impressive quality of a photo-journalist is that his ability to respond rapidly whenever there is scene concluded news worthy.

Some photo-journalists get enough shooting assignments from various newspapers or magazines as freelance photographers, others do not. It's a hard field to enter, and not nearly as easy as the traditional family, child or wedding photography. Clearly, this is why many photographers use this method in all their portrait assignments.

Their job is extremely harsh and difficult as they are expected to take pictures both in extreme conditions as well as in challenging situations. Telling a story was never harder, but more rewarding.

There is a lot of information online regarding this type of photography. Chances are there is an online Photography Community that you can join that will teach you everything you want to know about how to tell a story with a single photo.

Perfect Westchester County Wedding Photography Destinations

In general, come wedding season, brides and grooms alike are scrambling to find that perfect location, for that perfect moment when everything in their life comes together in order to form that perfect, magical wedding picture. As simple as that idea is to envision, in practice it is far more complicated and stressful to bring to life particularly when there is so much commotion, planning and variety around when it comes to wedding photography in the tri-state area.

Luckily, the beauty and serenity of Westchester County is enough to melt any bride's heart, while making her dreams come true. In order to get that beautiful, picturesque wedding photography experience, there is no need to stress out in the middle of the New York City hustle and bustle. Instead one can go a little north and have access to top photographers, stunning scenery and an atmosphere, which will make you feel exactly the way you want to feel on your wedding day- like the queen of the world, with her king by her side.

Here are three top picks for Westchester photography destinations, which will make your wedding day the special occasion that you seek it to be and more.

Harbor Island Park

This beautiful natural escape is a prime area for the bride and groom who want to remember their wedding day with a style of elegance and simplicity. Located on the wharf of the Long Island Sound, Harbor Island Park is a flawless backdrop of every day leisure life. Walk along the paths by the water, surrounded by beautiful fall foliage or the blossom of spring flowers. Relax on a bench overlooking the peaceful sound as the photographer bends over backwards to ensure quaint perfection. Whatever the season, this location is surely not to disappoint even the most unpredictable bride.

PepsiCo Gardens

Just 31 miles north of New York City, PepsiCo Gardens is a versatile and creative setting, which is the envy of all New York photographers. This location is ideal for the king and queen couple who are filled with imagination and ingenuity. With a collection of 45 sculptures on the grounds of the gardens, this makes for a perfect opportunity for the bride and groom to engage in an interactive spontaneous wedding photography shoot. Make memorable moments captured in still amongst the likes of Auguste Rodin and Max Ernst.

Glen Island Park

Also located on the Long Island Sound, Glen Island Park is an impeccable photography venue for the couple who want to be surrounded by castles and have a flair for the medieval. Originally one of 4 privately owned islands, connected by causeways and drawbridges, Glen Island now belongs to Westchester County and is a staple in Westchester wedding photography because of its mystic 19th century-esque castle, fit for a king and queen on their day.

The wedding day is when every bride and groom deserves to be out of the photography studio and on location to have the perfect wedding shoot. Westchester county has ample locations to choose from and with the help of professional wedding photographers the decisions that come with wedding photography are made simple.

What's Hot for 2012 Weddings?

We are nearing the end of 2011 and the wedding season has dwindled off to the courageous couples who dare to bare the cold for a winter wedding (I applaud these couples as their wedding end up being unique and quite cost effective in the off season).

So let's end the year off for all the 2012 brides and grooms and look into some of the up-coming trends in weddings for the New Year.

Themed Weddings:

Before people stuck to colour themes or seasoned themes, now they are going big with movie themes, story-book weddings, myth inspired themes and more. This trend will continue for 2012 and probably be more dramatic. The great thing about themed weddings now is the loss of literal ideas in themes. Couples are understanding that you don't have to take the idea word for word, or scene for scene out of the book or movie but they can just have their weddings give the idea of where their inspiration stemmed from. Couples are getting that although a theme is nice personal reflections in a wedding are much more valuable and appreciated by guests.

Photography:

Boudoir Books

Brides and Grooms for that matter are becoming sexier behind closed doors. No, not on the honeymoon... Boudoir books are becoming more the norm for couples getting married. Giving their significant other a very "risqu矇" wedding gift with intimate photo's meant for their eyes only.

Candid Photos

Candid photography is making a big come back or stand on the photography front. Couples are being caught in sensual, loving, quirky, fun, and flirty moments on their wedding day or engagement shoot. Candid photos are all about shooting outside of the box and the photographer will strive to capture the moments that are honest and un-posed.

Fun and Adventurous

Fun and adventurous photo shoots are the leading trend for 2012. Goofily framed couples, moustaches and wigs, underwater, in the air, and any other crazy ideas that bring out the true personality of the to-be-wed couple are exactly what this type of photography is about.

Wedding Dresses:

Slits, Ruffles, Lace, Flowers, Appliqu矇s... Anything missed? Oh yeah, Flowing soft dresses and bold colours. This will be very prominent in wedding dresses for 2012. Brides are showing who they are and what there all about when walking down the aisle. What's great is that these dresses will be able to work with any type of bride from the traditional to the funky unique.

Non Floral Bouquets and Centrepieces:

Did you know that not everyone likes flowers?? Shocking I know. We are seeing more brides opt for non-floral bouquets such as cotton stalks, twigs, buttons, broaches and jewels, paper flowers, woven baskets, and etc. Flowers aren't the only thing to walk the wedding parties hand and 2012 won't be the exception.

Transportation:

Mini-cars, Bicycles, Horse drawn carriages, motorcycles, walking... yes even walking through a huge city crowd is no stride for the 2012 couples. Transportation is no longer about arriving in traditional style but more about arriving in anything a bride or groom could dream up.

Wedding Cakes:

Trends like Cake Pops. Mini-individual Cakes and Cupcakes will stay very essential in the New Year. But there have been some cool developments like Pie Pops, Candy Buffets, Pie Cupcakes... is your mouth watering yet?? Well 2012 will definitely quench the appetite.

Innovative Photo Frames - For Some Special Memories

Time is a very strange and a precious resource. Scientists have even called it a fourth dimension, which would suggest to some that it is possible to travel back and forth in time, as it is possible to travel back and forth in space. Man has been fascinated with this, as many people really love to re live and enjoy certain special moments forever, while others would love to travel into the future. However, this has not been possible, at least not until today that common man knows of. Instead, we still rely on old fashioned ways of capturing time. The best way in which this can be done is through pictures and photos. These photos always help us remember the special feeling which we have when we were living that moment. These moments could be those of graduation, special family dinners, wedding pictures, birthday pictures and so on.

Photo frames

Hence it is also important that these pictures must be given their due respect, and be framed properly in a good photo frames. These days, a large variety of innovatively designed picture frames are available, in all sizes and colours. They look excellent when you put them up at your study table, or hang them on your living room wall. You can also get some excellent metal frames which can be used to hang over the fireplace or be put up on the mantle. They make the pictures look much prettier, and also help you make a very good decoration for the living room. A house always feels like home when its objects are able to tell visitors little stories about the people who live there. These framed pictures are an excellent way through which this can be achieved.

Customised frames

You can also get some excellent poster frames, which can be used to hang over your walls with some enlarged or fully blown up pictures of certain special occasions. It would be ideal to showcase your wedding pictures in this way. You can also get some fantastic custom frames these days, which have been personalised and specially made just for you. With the help of customization, photo framing becomes a whole lot of fun, as you can pick virtually any design for the picture which you want to frame. You can simply give your requirements to the makers, and they will use some of the latest technology available in picture framing so that you can have the most amazing picture. These picture framers are really cheap and affordable, and strive to give you the best service at very reasonable prices. This is mainly because they need to beat the competition they are facing from online photo albums. You can also get some clip frames so that you can put lots of small pictures together.

Organize the Perfect Photo Montage

Photographs have always been popular, but they are now more than ever in an age where people are always carrying small cameras and camera phones to capture and share moments with friends. So why not share photos with guests at your wedding or special event?

One great way to do this is with a photo montage. Now a day's photo montages are offered by many DJ services, who will display your photos on their large screens during the cocktail or dinner segment of your reception and they set the music of your choice.

If you are choosing a photo montage, there are a few techniques that can make the montage even more special. When selecting pictures, a good method for going about it is to think of the montage as an opportunity to tell a story through photographs. If it's a wedding you are choosing this service for, it will work nicely to start by doing a few baby pictures of the bride, then switch to the groom's baby shots, then show photos of the bride when she's a tad older, and alternate that way until you get to the first photographs of the couple together. Organizing it chronologically like this really visualizes the story of the newly married couple. If you are making a montage for a graduation, birthday party, or a religious celebration and there is only one guest of honor, use the same model and start with baby pictures and work up chronologically to current pictures.

For whatever occasion the service is for, try to include family and friends who will be attending. Use photographs that include people who will be at the event, that way they can see their part in the story.

Another tip: everyone always goes nuts for the adorable baby pictures and the goofy shots, so be creative! Include posed and charming photos, but don't forget the candid shots of mismatched outfits and funny faces.

Montage videos make great and unique gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, employee parties or events, tributes, weddings, retirement parties, one of a kind Christmas gifts, valentines gifts, a father's day gift, mother's day gift and for any other occasions. Actually an occasion is not even necessary they are a fantastic way to enjoy, preserve and document your cherished family members.

Montage Videos make cherished family keepsakes. They are great for special occasions. Some customers have one made every few years to document children growing and family changes. once you have one of these done it will become a cherished possession that you will watch again and again.

A photo montage is something that always brings smiles to faces. It's a way to bring back pleasant memories and share a story. This is why they are great at any occasion. Some of the Disc Jockey comes with a DVD of photos and music that you can keep and revisit. Even if you don't have an event to display one at, you can give a DVD of one as thoughtful, personalized gift. In the current trend photo montage is the perfect add-on of any of the DJ services. And they will work with you to make a custom photo montage that is perfect for your event. They can also suggest you wedding photo montage music. Some DJ's will have a huge list of montage anniversary songs suggestion which makes it easy for you to select the songs to make your day memorable.

Secrets of Tasteful Wedding Photo Montages

Welcome to wedding season! In the United States, June is the busiest month for scheduled nuptials and related events. Even if your big day is coming up in just a few weeks, you still have plenty of time to create a showstopping (yet tasteful) wedding photo montage. These practical tips will help ensure that you have an elegant and classy montage of memories at your wedding.

Keep It Short

This is the most common rookie mistake in the creation of photo slide shows. And why shouldn't it be? It can often be difficult to edit down the lives of two extraordinary people into just a few minutes' worth of images. However, if it's a truly tasteful slide show you're after, the shorter, the better. Ideally, you'll want to keep your slide show to an absolute maximum of ten minutes (although seven minutes is truly perfect). Any longer, and your family will merely feign interest while your friends wonder why they aren't included in more of the photos (after all, there's a snapshot featuring every pet you've owned since the third grade). Keep it short and sweet.

Stick to the Topic

Yes, we know how much you love the maid of honor, how she's stood by you through think and thin, and how much you appreciate and value her friendship. But she's not the one you're marrying! Keep your photos relevant, which means the majority of the photos should be of the bride and groom, with a sprinkling of photos including parents, grandparents (if you're close to them), milestone events, and a smattering of siblings and very close friends. Remember, the more people you include, the more likely you are to leave someone out and have to deal with hurt feelings.

Skip the Embarrassing Stuff

The easiest way to make your video montage tasteful is to choose appropriate photos. That means no drunken binges, no pictures of you-know-who with what's-his-face, no ex's, and no childhood photos of the bride or groom in the bathtub. Anything incriminating should be omitted. When in doubt, leave it out.

Choose Classic Music

This is not the optimal time to showcase the Billboard top five, or your favorite hip hop ditty. Your wedding slide show should be classic, so choose a classic love song or two, the song you will dance to at your wedding (for your first dance together as husband and wife), or "your" song that's stuck with you since you first began dating. After all, you don't want to look back years from now while watching your slide show and say, "What on earth were we thinking?"

As always, begin with the end in mind. Imagine your friends and family clapping or wiping away a happy tear as the lights go up after your wedding montage has played. This will ensure a truly tasteful wedding slide show.

Ruby Wedding Anniversary Gifts for Parents

Your parents making it to their Ruby Wedding Anniversary is a magnificent achievement and what gives more reason to celebrate than them spending 40 years with each other? Rubies are used for this celebration because the Ruby is believed to possess an eternal inner flame. This is a symbol that the passion in the marriage is going strong after 40 years together.

Gifts to make for the Occasion

Sometimes the very best gift that you can give to your parents is a homemade one. Nothing will touch the heart of your parents more than the thoughtfulness of a homemade present and the Ruby Wedding Anniversary is a perfect opportunity to show off your creativity. The following are some ideas to get you started off on the right foot;

1. Put together a CD - Why not make a CD for you parents Ruby Wedding Anniversary using songs from the era of their marriage.

2. Memory photo album - A great gift to make is a memory photo album with pictures highlighting the best bits of the 40 years that they have spent together. You may like to include pictures of their wedding, pictures of you and anything from pictures of friends to housing your parents have lived in together.

3. Write a Poem - If you are feeling creative enough then why not write your parents a poem. To keep it in keeping with the occasion then write in Ruby red ink and even possibly display the poem in a Ruby red coloured frame.

4. Family quilt - For something completely unique then a great idea is a family quilt. Get each family member or close friend to create a square of the quilt to make this a magnificent masterpiece.

5. Wish Tree - To create a wish tree for your Parents Ruby Anniversary then use a large branch and paint it Ruby red. This can then be decorated with Ruby red ribbons, pictures of loved ones and close friends and anything relating to major events from their 40 years of marriage.

As you can see there are numerous ideas to make your parents for a great gift if you are on a tight budget in this difficult current climate. The gifts are great whatever your budget and shows your parents thoughtfulness and caring and can be used in conjunction with something you have purchased.

Gifts to buy for the Occasion

There are unlimited gift ideas available to purchase for your Parents Ruby Wedding Anniversary. The list below highlights a few of the best gift ideas available;

1. Personalised Gifts - Purchasing a personalised gift will certainly show your parents that you have been thoughtful and caring in your gift selection and will certainly impress them. A personalised gift may be available from different locations but what sets it aside from other gifts is your very own unique personalisation.

2. Event Tickets - This is a great idea for your parents and in fact nearly all occasions. When you present your parents with their card you can slide these inside. Upon presenting this to your parents they will think that you have not gotten them a gift until they open and see what inside the card. You could purchase tickets for numerous events such as a concert, sports event, movie, theatre to name but a few. You could even wrap the card in a Ruby red ribbon.

3. Planning a Ruby trip - If money is no object then you could pay for your parents to go away on a trip or holiday to a Ruby related location. There are numerous places such as the Ruby Golf Course in the Bahamas or the Ruby Valley in Nevada. There is even a place called Ruby in Arizona which would surely impress any parent.

Average Wedding Photography Prices

Wedding photographs can be considered by many as one of the most expensive parts of the wedding. While the actual costs may vary somewhat between different photographers, it is important to keep in mind that having a bad photographer can actually destroy the wedding. The photographer is important because it is their job to capture the wedding forever and they have to know how to do their job good. When you have a good photographer, the entire wedding can be frozen in time and available to you to look back for the rest of your lives.

Keep in mind though, that while there are average wedding photography prices, you should not forgo price for quality. The photographer is an artist, the artist for your wedding and it is their job to capture it. Make sure that when you choose one, you take the time to ensure that they will give you nothing less than the best shots they can manage. The cost for any average wedding photography prices can set you back around $2,000 but it can go up as well as down from there depending on the experience of the independent photographer.

When you go in to speak to the photographer, you will be presented with a number of packages depending on what your needs are. These range in the number of pictures as well as the size of the developed photos. Furthermore some photos may also be available in different styles such as a canvas reprint of the original. What ever your choice is, make sure that you take the time to ensure that it is a good one or you could be regretting it for many anniversaries to come.

Out of the Ordinary Wedding Cake Ideas

Choosing a wedding cake can be really fun. For those couples who are unique or 'out of the ordinary,' it can be a pain. This is because the majority of wedding cakes are similar. While there are many different styles and colors, if you want an out of the ordinary wedding cake idea, you are often left with frustration. Not anymore. Here are some really great wedding cakes that are sure to be unique and also sure to please the crowd!

Photo Cake -

This is a really neat idea. At most bakeries, you can have a photo airbrushed onto your cake in icing that is edible. You can do the same thing for your wedding cake. Whether you choose to put a beautiful picture of you and your soon-to-be spouse on the cake, or something with a bit of humor or elegance, you can do it all. There are a lot of options with this kind of cake. For instance, you could place an image of a ball and chain if you want your cake to be humorous. You could place a beautiful picture on your cake, like flowers, hearts or something similar. No matter who you are as a couple, you can make a cake that fits your own unique style.

Doughnut Cake -

This is a really fun wedding cake and very easy to do it yourself. You simply order frosted doughnuts (enough to meet the size requirements for your guests) and stack them to look like a wedding cake. You can really do any sort of design that you want and this is a great way to have a unique cake that still looks amazing and tastes like heaven. You can choose from the flavors and types you want as well. Place your decorations on your doughnut wedding cake and you're good to go!

Cakes that Resemble Things -

One couple recently got married and had a cake that looked just like a PlayStation console, complete with controller plugged into the cake! This is a great idea for a unique couple, since you can get cakes that pretty much look like anything. You may have to pay your designer a bit extra to pull of the task, but if you can dream it up, it's possible!

There are many different things you can do when you're looking for a completely unique cake. From doughnuts to gaming consoles, you're sure to find something just for you. Use your imagination and creativity as well as the ideas above to come up with a wedding cake that you and your fiancé will absolutely cherish.

Lovely Ideas For A Vintage Wedding Event

For couples who love poking around antique malls and paging through old sepia photographs, a vintage style wedding is a perfect fit. Tea-dyed table linens, delicate hand-tatted lace, and dropped-waist dresses are just some of the lovely retro touches that infuse a modern marriage ceremony with old fashioned panache. Contemporary couples planning such an event should consider these lovely but simple ideas for a vintage wedding.

Bridal Attire

Before selecting accoutrements for the bride, groom and wedding party, the couple should decide on a specific era that will integrate their choices into a single theme. Victorian, Turn of the Century, Roaring 20s, and Fab Fifties are some examples. By researching their era of choice, the bride and groom can get a clear vision of the fashions and feel of the time period.

Vintage style wedding clothes set the tone for the ceremony. Many upscale vintage clothing stores stock a selection of lightly used retro wedding gowns and men's dress suits. Several online shops showcase one-of-a-kind vintage wedding attire for sale too. Happily for the bride who prefers something new, contemporary retro designers offer a variety of vintage inspired styles from different eras.

Accessorizing clothing with vintage type touches further reflects the retro wedding theme. For example, for a Roaring 20s affair, the bridesmaids could wear long, knotted strings of pearls and feather hair adornments to accessorize their flapper style dresses.

Invitations

In many cases, the wedding invitation is the first encounter guests will have with the big event. Therefore, the invitation should reflect the ceremony's retro flavor. Ideas for a vintage wedding can be easily translated to stationery. If the event is Victorian, for instance, the invitations could employ elaborate script for the lettering. Scroll work borders adorned with little cupids could provide period flair. Adopting the phrasing from an authentic invitation from the Victorian era would make a lovely introduction to the themed event.

Photographs

Photos can take center stage in a vintage wedding. Using vintage photographs to decorate at the reception recreates an atmosphere of bygone days. If the theme is Turn of the Century, each reception table might have a centerpiece that features a sepia-toned photograph of a different period scene, such as a cyclist on a tall velocipede or couples strolling in their period costumes.

Creative photographers can capture the essence of an era-themed wedding through their use of poses and props. If the retro theme is the 40s Big Band Era, the photographers could use a music stand with a clarinet or trombone as a backdrop. The way the bride and groom interact in their wedding photos could reflect the theme era too. For a Fab Fifties themed photo, for example, they might strike a jitterbug pose.

Music

Selecting appropriate music for the event is not as difficult as other choices, given that each era has its own distinctive musical style. For a Jazz Era wedding, a jazzy version of the wedding march incorporates the theme in a witty and sophisticated way. Of course, the couple's favorite jazz tunes would reign supreme on the dance floor at the reception.

A vintage wedding is a fun project that instills the intrinsic beauty of the ceremony with a personal glow. From designing the invitations to choosing the music, a vintage event conjures the magic of bygone eras.

Photo Wedding Announcements - How to Make Them

There are plenty of couples who would like to share the exciting news of their happy wedding, with their friends and family members a little differently, than the conventional way of sending wedding announcement cards, as per usual custom. This kind of announcement, will allow people to know about your wedding news and the celebrations. By making this kind of photo wedding announcements you can really save the additional expenses of sending wedding thank you cards.

There are many websites that you can find, if you search with the help of Google, who will provide you all the necessary tools in their website to publish your announcement in best possible manner, that too for very cheap rates. You can browse through all these websites and choose any suitable one, according to your taste and the price tag for the announcement.

In order to make a photo wedding announcements, you must get a nice photograph of yours along with your partner from a nice studio. Get few photographs in different poses and styles and finally choose the best one according to both the partners. You must wear the clothing in the photograph which your friends and family would like to see you in.

Now you have to scan the selected photograph in order to get your photograph digitized, so that it can be uploaded in the selected website. Create a postcard size of the photograph by using the Microsoft Paint or any other software that can help you to create a photograph with little additional space provided for little message.

Now fit in the selected digitized photograph in the proper slot in the announcement template provided by your chosen website. You can choose any of the scripted messages that are provided by the website. Every message will be unique in its own way. You can select according to your choice and fill up the necessary information that is asked by the website.

Usually the information's sought are the names, place, date and place of wedding and few details about your family. Every website has its own set of questions that are required to be filled by you. You can now preview your announcement by clicking this option. In case you find any part of the message needs to be edited or changed, you can do it now. After couple of iteration you can finalize your Photo wedding announcements. You must make sure that final announcement created by you is acceptable to both the partners.

Having reached to this step, you have almost accomplished in your task. You can now place your order for the required quantity as per your need. You can choose the suitable mode of payments as directed by the website.

The website you have selected will further refine your announcement, if that is needed and dispatch you the cards to your address. You can also have the option to send the digitized cards through email to your long distance friends and thus save your postal charges too. Online method of creating the announcement cards are most efficient and cost effective method as compared to any traditional methods that we have.

Wedding Guest Etiquette: Some Tips From a Photographer

At this point in my career I've been to and worked my fair share of weddings, and I've seen and experienced a wide variety of things. On more than one occasion I've run into overly excited guests who've caused one (or more) issues below. I understand how exciting and fun photography is and the joy that can be found in helping a friend capture their special day! I truly do! But I also understand that the camera enthusiast might not understand the hired professional's perspective... thus the reason for this article.

Now let me preface this by saying - if you've been guilty of one or more of these things don't fret! But now you know - so you can't say that you don't. And I'll be the first to admit - when I'm a wedding guest I make sure to abide by these rules too! I'm not saying you can't use your nice camera and I'm not telling you that you can't take pictures. Just try to be mindful of the hired professional and not interfere - after all, the professional photographer has been paid a lot of money to capture the happy couples day.

So here are just a few do's and don'ts as a wedding guest regarding taking pictures and interacting with the wedding photographer.

Aisle Duckers - These are the guests who duck out into the aisle as the bride (or bridal party) are walking down the aisle. I understand that you are just trying to quickly get your shot, but as the bride is walking down the aisle the only people who should be in the aisle are the bride, her father, and me. It's my job to capture that look of joy on her face as she's walking towards the love her life. If I've got guests ducking out into the aisle to 'snap a quick pic' it hinders my ability to capture that special moment for her. So please - if you're going to photograph the bride processing in - do it from your seat.

Flash Photographers - I'm not a huge fan of flash in general as I much prefer natural light, but there are definitely situations where it's necessary such as dimly lit reception halls. Long story short - when you use your camera's flash it ruins the professionals photos. All it takes is for the perfect moment to arise and for you to flash off a shot at the same time we do. With my camera set to be properly exposed for my flash - the extra light from your flash will over-expose my photo and ruin what could have been a great shot. So help the pro not miss out on those special moments by avoiding using your flash as much as possible.

Look Over Here - In addition to flash ruining moments, wedding guests who call the bride and groom to look at them on the dance floor, during the cake cutting, etc kill those intimate moments. I totally understand that you want to get a photo and I by no means want to stop you from getting one, but when you say, "Look over here!" - you're pulling them out of their moment so that you can have your photo - it becomes about you and not them. I always try to be mindful of wedding guests with cameras too and I will often make sure to have the couple pause for a moment before cutting the cake or tossing the bouquet so you can get your shot. My main point is - please don't call their attention away from each other or their moments but capture them IN the moment instead.

Shop Talkers - There seems to be at least one guest at every wedding who is super excited about photography! And believe me - I understand that excitement! But when I'm at a wedding - I'm working. I don't have time to stop and help you figure out why your pictures are coming out blurry or how to fix the shutter speed on your camera. I love talking about cameras and photography as much as the next photography enthusiast, but there is so much to keep track of on a wedding day. I can't be distracted by a guests photo-related questions when there is a very important event coming up that I need to be ready for.

Over the Shoulder Shooters - More than once I've been working a wedding and turned to get a lens out of my bag and literally bonked my head on a guest's lens as they hovered over my shoulder to take their photo the same time I did. I'll be honest - this is incredibly distracting and very frustrating! What's worse is when these guests try to direct the bridal party! As mentioned before I'm being paid a lot of money by the bride and groom to take amazing photos for them. Having someone over my shoulder while I'm trying to work is not only distracting but rude. It's also technically a copyright infringement and can cause all kinds of problems. And when these guests start trying to direct the group or bridal party - it creates confusion as to who they should be looking at for these photos. We've run into enough problems with these guests that we actually have it written into our contracts that no guests are allowed to take photos while we are doing formals so as to avoid this confusion and frustration. We've found it creates for a more stress-free environment for our brides and grooms and helps guests to enjoy the day rather than feeling the need to constantly document it. After all, that's what we are being paid to be there for!

Who's the Boss - I would think this one is self-explanatory but just in case... at the end of the day, the bride is my boss! We may have covered 100 different ideas for what she wants to photograph on her wedding day, but when the day arrives if she changes her mind I'm going to follow her direction. Granted if mom and dad are paying for the wedding and want a couple shots - we will definitely work them in. But ultimately the Bride gets to call the shots.

So there you have it... Just a few tips for being an exceptional wedding guest. Again my goal is not to point fingers at anyone or to make anyone feel bad. My hope is simply to give you some insight into what we are dealing with on a wedding day and what our goals and perspectives are. So hopefully you found this at least a little informative and insightful. Wedding photography is a big job and with the rise of digital cameras (and camera phones) it seems everywhere you look there's a camera. So my hope is that these tips will help you to still have fun taking photos on the wedding day without interfering with the hired professional.

Lifestyle Photography Or A Studio Session

When many of us think about booking a photography session, we automatically imagine ourselves in a photographic studio with bright lights, reflectors, and a whole host of technical looking equipment. Whether we have chosen to book a couple's photography session, or family photography, the default is the studio session, but there is an alternative option. Lifestyle photography is shot on location and offers an opportunity to take much more relaxed, natural photographs.

Studio session photography is something I am sure we are all familiar with; often featuring a white background these days, the photographer usually encourages you to bring fun props and wear brightly coloured clothes. During the shoot you may be encouraged to do all sorts of silly things to make you all laugh and act comfortable and natural. You can certainly get some fabulous images with this method, and a major benefit is that it is usually cheaper, however lifestyle photography offers a different style for you to choose from when booking a photography session.

There is a completely different emphasis when you book a lifestyle photography session. The location acts almost like another character in the photos. Ideally you would choose somewhere that means something to you or your family; somewhere that has a certain significance for you is perfect. The aim is to capture a moment in time, un-posed, just you in surroundings you feel like yourself in. Imagine stunning family shots that you could have taken yourself, if only you had the skills of a professional photographer!

Lifestyle photography works for most subjects. An engagement photography shoot at the place where your fiance proposed will be something you can treasure forever, while a family photo session in a location that your children love exploring and playing in can deliver some absolutely amazing images.

Many young children can feel uncomfortable in a studio, with so much complicated looking equipment, and bright lights shining directly on them. A lifestyle photography session eliminates this as you can choose to be in a place where they feel comfortable and can be themselves. Most parents know that if you ask a young child to smile for the camera they can pull the oddest faces; sure they think they are smiling, but you know it's not the same as the smile you get when they are having fun and are absorbed in the moment.

Most people choosing a lifestyle photography session pick an outside area that means something to them, whether it is a local park or your own allotment, a good photographer will be able to find a way to make both the location and yourself shine. Whether you choose lifestyle or studio photography, the important thing is to enjoy yourselves and you will end up with some fantastic pictures that will last a lifetime.

Wedding Photo Album Versus Wedding Photo Book

Following many threads on social media and wedding forum web sites, I repeatedly have come across the question of where to go with your photos if you want to make your own wedding photo album. One common advice is to go to blurb, Shutterfly or other photo book makers. Also, it is often noted that many wedding photo album makers, like Queensberry, do only business with photographers. But should you really get a photo book for your wedding photo album? This article is trying to highlight the pros and contras of photo books in comparison to proper wedding photo albums.

Pros

There are several reasons in favor of photo books. For starters, they are easily available. You can chose between a multitude of different providers, they come cheap with prices starting from 10 Dollars and they are delivered very quickly with e.g. blurb delivering most books within 7 to 10 business days after ordering. Proper wedding photo albums on the other hand are much harder to get your hands on. It is true that a lot of firms do only business with photographers and other wholesale customers. Prices are considerably higher and delivery times vary from 2 weeks to 6 months.

Also, if you want to make your own design, photo book companies often provide a design software, which allows you to put together a simple album layout within minutes. Often the software has an integration into the ordering process, so after designing it is a piece of cake to upload your photos and submit your order. Wedding album makes usually don't provide this feature for two reasons: often the companies are too small to develop their own software and in most cases those programs are not sufficient to create the sophisticated layout design required for a real wedding photo album.

Contras

While all the points mentioned so far are more or less in favor of getting a photo book, there are also some pretty good reasons against it. As said earlier, wedding photo albums are more expensive, but their still are good value for money, if you consider what you get. You get a proper heavy cover made of real or faux leather, which has a substantially better feel to it than the hard or soft-paper cover of a photo book.

The photos in your wedding album are developed with a chemical process. Their resolution is perfect and their colors never fade. This might be true for some high-quality photo books, but the majority of them uses laser-jet printing resulting in a notably lower photo quality. The pages in a proper wedding photo album are made of solid paper or carton (true only for flush-mount albums). Again, this leads to a much nicer feeling when flipping through the album, than the floppy thin pages of a photo book.

And finally regarding the design, if you really want to design your own wedding photo album, it is not at all a bad idea to use a professional software for it like DG Foto Art, Photoshop or Gimp. This requires some practice and skill, but only pro software provides you with the sophisticated fading, transparency, shadow and photo touch-up effects you will need to make a state-of-the-art album layout. The simple self-design software of the wedding photo album makers gets you only half the way.

Conclusion

A wedding photo album is one of the most important safekeepers of the memories of your wedding day and you will look at it again and again, possibly for the rest of you live. Therefore, all the money you invest in it is invested very well. Therefore, I would advice you to go for a wedding photo book, only if you don't care too much about all this "wedding day fuzz" or, if your budget simply does not allow for more. Otherwise, get a proper wedding album, because on the long run it is worth it!

Wedding Videographers - Should You Hire One?

When planning a wedding it is almost a given that you are going to hire a professional photographer. What might not be so clear is whether you should hire a professional videographer. In this article I will explore some of the pros and cons of hiring a videographer vs. having a friend or relative tape the wedding or even going without.

The first question you need to ask is yourself is whether you want a video of your wedding in the first place. You are already going to have hundreds and possibly over a thousand photographs from your wedding, so what more could you need? This may seem obvious but, how about sound? Flipping through a photo album is a great way to bring back memories of your wedding day but years from now you probably will not remember what it sounded like. Having your wedding day captured on video lets you hear your vows all over again, the sound of your family and friends cheering for you and the music that was playing as you share your first dance together as husband and wife. The other factor of course is motion. The subtleties of all of those special little moments that go by so fast just can't be captured the same in a still photo. Another consideration is sharing your wedding video with your children and even grandchildren many years from now. A video can give you the sense of being their like no other medium. You can pass on to future generations a little time capsule, a record of that one special day in your lives and the lives of all your family and friends who are their to share it with you.

Another thing to consider of course is whether it is worth the cost. Absolutely, yes. In fact if you shop around you will often find a good videographer for a lot less than you will spend on still photography. While many parts of your wedding day will come and go before you know it, you will have your wedding video for many years to come.

Why not have a relative tape the wedding? On the upside you will save a lot of money on your wedding day. Is it better than nothing? Probably. First and foremost you should consider what you are asking your relative to do for you. If they are an invited guest do you really want them to spend the whole day working? A professional wedding videographer will usually spend at least six and often ten or more hours working non-stop to record your wedding day. This is quite a bit to ask of someone who would probably rather enjoy the party with you. Another important aspect of course is the quality. A professional will have professional equipment including a wireless microphone to record your vows and a second camera to cut to when the first camera is moving. Your professional videographer will then spend at least twenty, but probably forty or more hours editing the footage, mixing the sound and creating the final video for you. This is a level of service you are unlikely to get for free.

You will invest a lot of time and money in planning your perfect wedding, so it makes sense to not take any chances and include a videographer in your budget from the beginning. You will only get one chance to capture this day.

Wedding Photo Catalog Printing

Wedding albums are sell-able items for weddings. Couples often spend on the wedding album as they are one of the most valuable items to come from the wedding. Wedding albums today come in a variety of packages, formats and styles. Online printers provide creative, convenient and affordable services to produce customized wedding albums. Below are points to consider when choosing to print a wedding photo album catalog.

Orientation - Orientation is an important factor to consider for the wedding album. Orientation can either be vertical or horizontal. A vertical layout is unique and can be ideal for portrait and still life shots. A vertical orientation can also appear to be more formal. Horizontal layouts are best for landscape shots and photos with dramatic backgrounds. Horizontal album layouts may also fit more photographs. Online printers offer full color front and back printing of photo album catalogs on offset printers. Customers are free to upload their preferred layout and design or have the layout done professionally for a minimal charge.

Number of photos - When having wedding albums personally printed, customers have a choice of how many albums they would like to have printed. A wedding photographer usually surrenders an unedited collection of wedding photos in a DVD format to the couple. The couple can bring this disc to an online printer for an album catalog layout and printing. Customers can choose to print 2x3, 3.5x5, 4x6, 8x10 or 8.5x11 sized photo prints. Online printers also offer canvas printing services using digital printers. Customers can choose to print a photo canvas of a prenuptial or ceremony photo. Photo canvas prints range in standard and custom sizes of 8x10 inches to 55x 100 inches. Customers can choose to have photo canvas prints with a two-inch border all around or no borders.

Cover-Customers can choose from standard catalog cover stocks on an online printer's website. Printers also provide added conveniences such as free sample stock kit deliveries. Cover design can be customized and uploaded onto the website. Online printers offer wire-o binding of photo album catalogs.

Using Professional Photo Restoration Services Online

You can find many websites that offer photo restoration to customers and claim to be the best. These websites can claim to be the best based on various factors. Some will try to prove it with the cost of their services, which on most occasions are very low. Some try to convince their customers with quality of service but their costs are high. They try to justify their high costs with the level of service and results they provide. There is another category of websites that claim to be the best based on their quick task completion. Here is a website that we would like to recommend you if you need any type of photo restoration, photo retouching, photo enhancement, photo editing, product retouch, photo collage, wedding photo effects, background change etc.

While looking for professional photo restoration services online, look for a website that is rated by users as one of the best websites on the internet for photo restoration. These professionals offer almost any type of photo editing that you need for your pictures. Whether you need to add something, delete items, enhance the colors, decrease brightness, create photo collage, change backgrounds of your pictures or restore some old photos, the professionals of these websites can do anything for you.

While getting the services of photo editing experts, you can expect three hours minimum for the completion of an easy task. If it is an intricate and meticulous one, you will receive the results within three days. Sending the pictures for photo restoration is easy as ABC. All you need to is place the order online. You can upload the pictures that you want to restore right on these websites. You will receive the results of your pictures in a short size in your email. If you like the results, you can place the order for your desired size of the picture by placing the order online.

The prices that will be charged by photo enhancement experts depend on the level of difficulty of the task. Rightly so, a readymade plan does not make sense with this type of work. Prices start from a small sum of only five dollars to twenty-five dollars. You can contact them at your earliest on the given numbers to discuss your options or simply email them what you want done with your pictures. We are sure that the mere designs of these professionals' websites will impress and show you the neatness of their work.

Wedding Photography Poses - Are You Puzzled By Which Are The Right Ones To Use?

One of the hardest things on the big day is the correct wedding photography poses to use. There will be a lot going on and a lot to think about, so to get everyone into place at the right time can be hard work. Often guests are shy and unwilling to be in the photographs. The more confident and assertive you are, (but be polite) the more at ease the subjects will be and the better the photographs will be.

So how do you get the wedding photography poses right? The following guidelines should help:-

The Head, Shoulders and Body.
Most professional photographers make sure their subjects are turned at an angle to the camera. This creates a more flattering and dynamic image.

Head Tilt.
A diagonal line from one eye to the other creates a more dynamic image and can be achieved by getting the subject to tilt their head slightly. It's traditional that the bride's eyes should be tilted towards her shoulder closest to the camera however the grooms should then be tilted towards the furthest shoulder away from the camera.

Chin Height.
Make sure the subjects chin height is not too high or too low; too high can create an impression of haughtiness and too low can give the impression of low self-esteem.

Hands.
The hand of the subject(s) should be presented to the camera side on, as opposed to the palm or back of the hand towards the camera, as this gives a more natural, flowing line. Also, ensure the subjects fingers are slightly apart or it can make the hands look rather unflattering. The wrists should be slightly bent to give a more relaxed feel.

Feet.
Make sure the feet of your subject(s) are not pointing directly towards the camera, or it will make them look short and wide. When the subject is standing, they should avoid having their weight evenly distributed to both feet. With one foot slightly in front of the other, their weight should be mostly on the back foot and the knee of the front leg slightly bent. This will make the subject look more relaxed.

Full-Length and Three-Quarter Poses.
Ensure that the bottom of the frame is at mid-thigh or mid-calf. When composing the image in the viewfinder, the edge of the frame should not cut across the knee or other joint as this makes for an unsettling image. If possible, give them something to do with their hands/arms to prevent them hanging loosely by their sides. For example, a couple should have their arms around each other or men can perhaps lean on one knee.

For seated guests, a crossed legged pose can be effective. Leave space between the legs and the chair to give a more flattering view. Full length wedding photography poses should follow similar rules as for the three-quarter shot.

Group Portraits.
Group portraits follow similar rules as above. For the Bride and Groom (or other couples), turn the couple towards each other. You can get them into a stance that is similar to a dance hold for ballroom dancing. The arms furthest from the camera can be slipped around each other's waist and the hands closest to the camera could be holding each other's hand. These can be raised, or standing in the same position, get the couple to let go of each other's hands and let them drop to the side, but the furthest arms still around each other. Don't forget the head tilt as explained above.

For larger groups, if the couple are included, start with them in the centre in the dance hold and then distribute the others evenly to each side. Turn each of the group inwards towards the couple. As well as flattering the people in the group, this also helps to condense the group as they will be able to stand closer together slightly side on.

Conclusion.
Professional photographers consider all these factors effortlessly and it would appear to the observer that all these wedding photography poses come naturally, but for the amateur wedding photographer, a lot more effort will have to go into getting the poses right and guiding the subjects to stand correctly. However, this one wedding photography tip can make a huge difference to the final set of photographs.

Great Wedding Gifts and Keepsakes

When one of your friends or family members gets married, your wedding gift should reflect the excitement of the occasion as well as your affection and fondness for the couple. A personalized wedding keepsake can make a wonderful gift that the happy couple will display in their home or use often, bringing joyous memories of their special day. When choosing a type of wedding keepsake that the newlyweds will cherish forever, it is important to consider the many different types of presents that are available.

Photo Albums and Personalized Photo Frames

A picture is worth a thousand words, and there is no better gift that will preserve the memory of a wedding than a photo album or picture frame. A wedding photo album can be a very special gift giving you the option of adding photos for the couple, or giving them an empty album to fill with their own favorite memories. You will find many different styles of wedding photo albums to choose from, including many that are designed to be put on display in the couples' new home. A beautifully embellished fabric covered album personalized with embroidered names and the wedding date is a gift that is sure to be treasured for years.

Instead of a photo album, you might choose a personalized picture frame for them to hang on the wall of the couple's new home. There is a wide variety of styles to choose from, so you can easily find a wedding photo frame that suits the recipients' distinctive decorating style. While most personalized photo frames are designed to display an 8x10 wedding portrait, there are many other options available as well. A wedding collage picture frame that is designed to display snapshots from the ceremony and reception, or a honeymoon frame fitted with a die-cut mat spelling out the word "Honeymoon," are two alternatives to uniquely display cherished photos.

Heirloom Wedding Keepsakes

Some wedding keepsakes are destined to become family heirlooms. Imagine the delight of the bride and groom who receive a wedding quilt personalized with photographs from their wedding, or a classic Wedding Ring patterned quilt embroidered with their names and the date on which they tied the knot. Other heirloom quality wedding keepsakes you might consider are a crystal wedding clocks engraved with the names of the bride and groom and a special message, or a granite plaque laser-engraved with their favorite wedding photo.

For the bride and groom who take great pride in their heritage, consider a Family Name Wedding Plaque that displays each of their family coats of arms and family name history side by side in an heirloom quality frame. This can be a very special gift that represents the joining of two lineages in the process of creating a new dynasty.

Wedding Ornaments

Another way to give a lasting memoir of the couple's special day is to give the newlyweds a specialty Christmas ornament to hang on their tree year after year. Among the cutest wedding ornaments available are those that allow you to include the entire wedding party in whimsical "Character Figures", each labeled with the name of the bridesmaid, usher or wedding party member it is meant to represent. A more traditional wedding couple might appreciate an acrylic holiday wedding bell engraved with their names and the date of their wedding. These can also make great wedding favors!

Wedding Clocks

A time-honored tradition in wedding gifts is the clock. With vast array of styles available, you can easily find a wedding clock that suits the personal style of the newlyweds. Choose a painted slate clock personalized with hearts, flowers and the happy couple's names, or a more distinctive and elegant vinyl wall clock printed with their name and the year they were married.

Wedding Platters and Plaques

Another traditional wedding gift that is still in fashion is the wedding platter. Designed to be hung on a wall or displayed on an easel, wedding platters come in many different styles and types. You might choose a romantic white "From This Day Forward" wedding platter painted with a wedding cake and the couple's personal details, or a more ornate pewter wedding platter imprinted with a sculpted wedding scene. For a truly quirky gift that will continuously bring smiles to faces, choose a Wedding Character platter printed with figures representing the entire wedding party!

Wedding Keepsake Novelties

If you are looking for something special to give as a commemorative gift that the couple will remember forever, try looking for an inexpensive personalized wedding novelty. Options can include decks of playing cards printed with a smiling bride and groom and the names of the happy couple or other novelties and notions such as bride and groom coffee mugs, t-shirts and baseball caps all personalized with any special message that you choose to include.